The Free Banking Resolution Generator: Open Your Business Account Without the Back-and-Forth

Ask any founder who's opened a business bank account what surprised them most, and a lot will say the same thing: it wasn't the paperwork about the business itself, it was proving who's actually allowed to act on the business's behalf. Articles of incorporation tell a bank you exist. An EIN tells them you're a taxpayer. Neither one tells them whether Jane from accounting can wire $40,000 without a second signature, or whether your non-resident co-founder in London can open the account at all without flying to a US branch. That's the job of a corporate or banking resolution, and it's the single most common reason business account openings get delayed. Bizvee's free AI banking resolution generator produces this document in minutes, formatted the way banks actually expect to see it.

What a corporate or banking resolution actually is

A banking resolution (sometimes called a corporate resolution to open a bank account, or an LLC resolution) is a formal document where the company's owners or board authorize specific individuals to act on the company's behalf with a specific bank. It typically states:

• The legal name and formation details of the business
• That the governing body (board of directors, LLC members, or managers) has voted to open an account at a named bank
• Who is authorized to sign checks, make withdrawals, apply for loans or credit, and manage online banking
• Any limits on that authority (e.g., two signatures required above $10,000)
• The date of the resolution and signatures of the authorizing parties

Banks rely on this because they need a paper trail showing the person walking in the door (or filling out an online form) actually has the authority the business claims they have. Without it, a bank either refuses to open the account or makes you fill out their own generic version on the spot, which usually takes longer and asks for information you don't have handy.

Why banks insist on this even for tiny businesses

It might seem like overkill for a two-person LLC to need a formal resolution, but banks apply the same due diligence regardless of company size, partly because of anti-money-laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations that don't scale down for small businesses. A bank that opens an account without proper authorization documentation is the one holding liability if funds get misused later. So even a solo-owner LLC will often be asked for some form of resolution or authorization statement, especially at larger banks or when opening in a different state than the one where you're physically located.

When to use the Bizvee banking resolution generator

Use it any time you're:

• Opening a new business checking or savings account
• Adding a new authorized signer (e.g., a bookkeeper or a new managing partner)
• Switching banks and needing fresh documentation
• Applying for a business line of credit or merchant services account, which often asks for the same authorization proof
• Opening a second account for a different purpose (payroll, tax reserve, operating account)
• A non-resident founder needs to designate a US-based authorized signer

If you haven't formed your entity yet, start with company formation first — you'll need your Articles of Organization/Incorporation and EIN before a bank will even discuss opening an account.

Who actually signs a banking resolution

This depends on your entity structure:

If you already generated an operating agreement with Bizvee, the resolution should name the same manager(s) and reflect the same voting rules — banks notice when these documents contradict each other, and it's one of the fastest ways to get an account application bounced back.

Example prompt to generate a strong resolution

The tool works best when you give it real specifics rather than generic placeholders:

"Generate a banking resolution for Northwind Studio LLC, a Delaware LLC with two members, Priya Shah and Marcus Webb. We're opening a business checking account at Chase Bank. Priya Shah (Managing Member) should have full signing authority including wire transfers and online banking. Marcus Webb should have view-only access plus the ability to co-sign checks over $5,000. The resolution should be dated today and reference our EIN [insert once issued]. Include a clause allowing the bank to rely on this resolution until written notice of revocation is provided."

Notice the prompt specifies exact authority levels per person, not just "both members can sign." That level of detail is what separates a resolution that sails through underwriting from one that gets flagged for clarification.

What output to expect

The generated resolution typically includes:

• A formal heading identifying the company, its formation state, and entity type
• A "WHEREAS" or recital section establishing that the governing body met (or acted by written consent) and resolved to open an account
• A numbered list of specific authorizations (open account, sign checks, wire funds, apply for credit, close account)
• Named individuals with their titles and the scope of their authority
• A signature block for all members/directors who need to approve it
• A statement that the resolution remains in effect until revoked in writing

Most banks accept this format as-is; some larger banks will ask you to also complete their own internal signature card, but having a clean formal resolution in hand speeds that process up considerably because the banker doesn't have to explain the concept from scratch or wait on you to draft one.

US vs UK bank onboarding: what's different

This matters if you're forming in one country and opening accounts in another, which is increasingly common for online businesses.

United States

• Banks require an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS before opening most business accounts — see our EIN application service if you haven't gotten yours yet.
• Non-resident founders without a US Social Security Number can still open accounts at many banks and fintechs, but expect to provide a passport, proof of business address (a registered agent or virtual mailbox address often works), and sometimes an in-person or video verification call.
• Many neobanks (Mercury, Relay, Wise) built specifically for non-resident founders have streamlined this, but traditional banks like Chase or Bank of America still often require in-branch visits for non-residents.
• A banking resolution speeds up both traditional and online applications because it answers the "who's authorized" question upfront.

United Kingdom

• UK banks focus heavily on proof of UK business address and often want to see your Confirmation Statement and Certificate of Incorporation from Companies House.
• Directors' identities are verified against the Companies House register, so make sure the names on your resolution exactly match what's filed publicly.
• UK banks are generally stricter about a director's residency and may require a UK-based director or a UK-resident authorized signer for full account functionality, though several digital banks (Wise, Revolut Business, Tide) have relaxed this for non-resident directors.
• A resolution isn't always called that in the UK (often just "board minutes authorizing account opening") but it functions the same way and banks appreciate having it ready.

Non-resident founders: a few extra notes

If you're forming a US LLC or UK Ltd from abroad, banking is usually the hardest part of the whole process, harder than formation itself. A few things that help:

• Get your EIN or UK company number squared away first — banks won't proceed without it.
• Use a real registered business address, not a PO box that a bank can flag as non-deliverable. Bizvee's registered agent and mailbox services provide an address that satisfies both state requirements and bank verification.
• Have your banking resolution ready before you start an application, not after a banker asks for it. It signals you're organized and reduces the number of email round-trips.
• Expect a video KYC call for most non-resident-friendly banks. Have your passport, the resolution, and your formation documents all in one folder so you're not scrambling mid-call.

What to double-check before submitting

• Names match exactly across your resolution, your Articles of Organization/Incorporation, your EIN letter, and government-issued ID. Even a middle initial mismatch can cause a delay.
• Authority levels are realistic. If your operating agreement requires two signatures for anything over a certain amount, your resolution should reflect the same threshold, not grant one person unlimited authority by accident.
• The bank name is correct, if the resolution is bank-specific. Some banks want a resolution addressed to them specifically; others accept a general-purpose version.
• Dates are current. A resolution dated a year ago may raise questions about whether it's still valid, even if it technically has no expiration.
• It's actually signed by everyone required. An unsigned resolution is not a resolution, just a draft.

For anything involving significant credit lines, multiple international entities, or complex signing hierarchies, have a lawyer or your accountant review the resolution alongside your operating agreement before you submit it to a bank.

Mistakes to avoid

• Treating the resolution as optional for a single-member LLC. Solo founders skip this constantly, then get stuck when the bank asks for "board authorization" and there's nothing to hand over.
• Naming someone as an authorized signer who isn't actually a member or officer. Banks will ask why an unrelated person has signing authority, and if your operating agreement doesn't support it, expect a rejection.
• Forgetting to update the resolution when signers change. If your bookkeeper who had authority leaves the company, revoke that authorization in writing and issue a new resolution. Old, unrevoked resolutions are a real liability risk.
• Using a generic template pulled from a random legal site that doesn't match your state's or bank's expectations, then wondering why the branch manager sends it back.
• Not keeping a copy. Store the signed resolution with your other formation documents (Articles, EIN letter, operating agreement) so you're not hunting for it next time you open an account or apply for financing.

How this connects to the rest of your Bizvee setup

The banking resolution is the bridge between your legal paperwork and your actual cash flow. Here's the typical order of operations:

1. Form the entity with Bizvee — LLC or Ltd formation in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia
2. Get your EIN or equivalent tax ID
3. Draft an operating agreement defining who has authority to act for the company
4. Generate the banking resolution, matching the same names and authority levels
5. Open the business bank account, presenting the resolution alongside your formation docs and EIN letter
6. Set up bookkeeping so the moment money starts moving through that account, it's tracked correctly for tax season

Because Bizvee handles formation, registered agent service, EIN filing, and bookkeeping in one place, the details on your resolution stay consistent with everything else we've helped you file, no mismatched addresses, no conflicting names, no missing EIN. Run the banking resolution generator right after your operating agreement, and if a bank pushes back on anything, contact us and we'll help you figure out what they're actually asking for.

The bottom line

A banking resolution feels like a minor formality until you're the founder standing at a bank counter with an account application stuck in limbo because nobody can say for certain who's allowed to sign a check. Generating one costs nothing, takes a few minutes, and removes one of the most common friction points in getting a business account open. Draft it before you need it, make sure it matches your operating agreement and formation documents, and get it signed by everyone who's supposed to sign it. That's the whole game.